Skip to main content
Close

Testing Out of Classes

Salt Lake Community College's Implementation of SB 196

SB 196 (a.k.a. the “Math Competency Initiative”) was passed by the Utah Legislature in the 2015 session. The bill stipulates that Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) institutions will grant degree credit and award “math competency” for an American College Test (ACT) math score of 26 or higher, and for a Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) math section score of 660* or higher.

What this means for SLCC students with qualifying math scores:

  • Students applying to SLCC fall 2017 and thereafter, and have an eligible ACT/SAT math score that is not older than 18 months, will automatically receive credit.
  • Qualifying scores will grant students Quantitative Literacy (“QL”) credit and will be equated to three credit hours at SLCC.
  • Credits will be transcripted as transfer work under a “ACT or SAT for QL” heading, with a listing of “ACT or SAT QL Credit” and bear the QL attribute.
  • Credits may only satisfy the Quantitative Literacy requirement for any Program of Study that requires MATH 1030 or any QL or any QS (Quantitative Studies); credits will not substitute for a specific course or program requirement.
  • Credits will not serve as a pre-requisite for any course.
  • ACT or SAT QL credit will not count in student’s GPA.
  • Use of ACT/SAT scores to determine placement in the math sequence remain the same.

If you have any questions about how credit applies, please contact Academic Advising.

*The original bill listed a qualifying SAT math section score of 640. There was a change to SAT scoring in March 2016; based on College Board concordance tables and recent changes to the standardized scoring metrics, 660 is the new score equivalent. Qualifying scores are not based on composite scoring or SAT subject exams.

Challenge Exams and CLEP

The Testing Center offers Challenge Exams* for Math 1010 and Math 1040. For any other course you will need to contact the Math Department. They also offer CLEP exams for a variety of Math courses. 

*Please note that Challenge Exams are generally non-transferable to other colleges and universities, and you must meet certain requirements to be eligible to take Challenge Exams as outlined on the Testing Center’s Challenge Exams & CLEP page.